>> god bless you, sir. >> thanks. >> reporter: bumps in the road also describe what's the romney campaign has been unable to avoid if recent weeks, costly distractions and discouraging poll numbers are upstaging the message. >> look at what president obama did on the budget -- nothing! except borrow and spend. >> when they talk about the culture of dependency, about american decline, i can honestly say to you i don't recognize the country they're talking about. >> reporter: while vice president biden was fighting for votes in florida, the president was calling on congress to help homeowners, even as he defended his campaign's weak spot. >> so we're moving in the right direction, but we're not there. >> reporter: a point up for debate as the presidential candidates get ready for their first showdown on wednesday. brian mooar, nbc news, washington. >>> and coming up next at 11:00, friends and family continue to speak out about that mother of five who was shot and killed by border patrol agents yesterday. what they're saying and what we're learning about her past tonight. >>> i was 6, and